Spring Break: 1000 Gifts

Spring Break has come and gone. Time flies. We are going on 6 months here in the state of the "big sky". Before we left, Michael's aunt gave us a plaque with Jeremiah 29:11 inscribed on it. It reads, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." This verse has been quoted so much, we often forget to ponder its meaning. God has indeed ordered our steps. We have feared for our future, feared for our children, feared. But, God has proved faithful. As Ann beautifully states, "God always sees to 'it'." Whatever "it"might be. Romans 8:32 states, "If He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

And given He has. He provides all our needs for His glory. And this week, I am especially grateful for providing us with a week full of fun. For blessing our children with good things. So...my gratitude list continues.....

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always managing a picture of a boy who will forever avoid the camera

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my girl fearlessly holding one of my biggest fears

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the humor I find in the fact that she will hold a tarantula, but not touch a star fish

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Nordys in Denver

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the wonder of this amazing production, and seeing the wonder in my children

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beautiful downtown Denver late at night

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tired little one after a very long, exciting day

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Jesus, for dying on the cross even while I was so lost. For pursuing me in my sin. Lord, may I somehow in my sin, impart this wonderful Gospel to those precious little ones you have trusted to my care.

Being Encouraged:1000 Gifts

The house is quiet. Too quiet. It seems as though we have had family and friends come through our doors as if we never left. That season seemingly has come to a close, for now. Our hearts overflow with joyous memories and with sadness. The sky here in Albuquerque seems to agree. But, as I look at all the pictures of all the loved ones who have come to visit us here and help us explore our new surroundings, I can't help but be filled with gratitude toward the One who has given us all these precious ones to love. He has surely ordained our steps and continues to guide our ways as we take a few more steps in this Great Adventure. So, as a cloudy and cold Monday rolls around, my Gratitude List continues.....

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a diligent & faithful husband

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a peaceful home

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a restful Monday

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two little ones loving each other

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our three visitors

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family and friends for life

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exploring a new state

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family

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being strengthened and encouraged this weekend

"You then, my child, be strengthened by the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus....." II Timothy 2:1a

Grief of My Sin

This new journey of Lent has been one of continued failure. I can't seem to keep my vow of, get this, no sugar for 40 days!!! Me!!!! But, the reason I chose this discipline is because I knew this would be the thing that would make me think about sacrifice. Fasting from this has caused me to realize, again, the extent of my depravity. I am totally and completely depraved. It has also caused me, again, the realize the extent of God's irresistible grace. Failure has caused me to grieve my sin. Isn't this the reason for the Gospel? To realize that we are nothing apart from His grace? It is all Him...He does it all. Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience has such a way with words, and clearly tells the Gospel story. The story of Grace and of Grief.

(If you choose to visit her site, please go to the bottom of my page and mute the music player.)

"For it is by GRACE that we have been saved..." Only grace. His grace.

Season of Repentance

So many thoughts. So many happenings. I have to admit that I have never paid much attention to the season of Lent before, but my kids are attending a Lutheran school and Lent is a big part of the Lutheran tradition. My kids are now learning what it means to fast, and what it means to prepare our hearts for worship. As I ponder the sacrifice of Christ, I think of all the pain that surrounds our lives every day. Did He come to make all that pain disappear in this life, or did He come to have relationship with us? We know all pain will go when we finally see Him face to face, but what about this life we live? I think back on the last few years of my life and what I see is hard to look at. I see my nephew's mom pass away suddenly, I see myself lose a very loved unborn child, I see my own body racked with pain and fatigue, I see my dear cousin's newborn leave this earth at just 4 weeks. I have seen my son's Sunday school teacher die of cancer, and now a very loved Grandma diagnosed with terminal cancer. That list doesn't even cover everything! But, here is the thing. In all these happenings, God has been glorified. Lives have been changed for the good. God has been faithful and His presence has been made real. In my own life, pain has only caused repentance. Spurgeon says, "All your circumstances are ordered in wisdom by a living, thoughtful, and loving God." It's hard to swallow. God is so lovingly patient....He won't allow anything to happen unless we have proven to be able to walk through it. We are His children! We as parents allow a certain amount of pain in order for our children to grow. God is no different. And I am thankful! Thankful that He chose me as His daughter and treats me as such. I want to bring glory to my Heavenly Father....I want the world to see His glory. So...as our little family prepares our hearts this Lenten season, we lift up all those around us in prayer. Prayer for grace, prayer for strength, prayer for change, and above all, prayer that His glory be shown amidst pain. Prayer that somehow, this present pain would bring repentance to those God is chasing.

"Repent and live grace, repent and live forgiveness, repent and live the good news of a love that defies reasoning, a joy that defies circumstances, a Relationship that defies time. Repent and be made well....fresh start."

~Ann Voskamp

Mark 1:15 (KJV)

"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: Repent ye, and believe the Gospel."

My Heart IS Thankful:1000 Gifts

I have not been very faithful to keep this practice going! Will I ever learn how much my heart is blessed (not to mention God's) when I practice the art of being thankful. So, my list goes on.....

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a new day and a new week. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion', says my soul, therefore I will hope in him." Lamentations 3:27

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my first girl

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my first girl's laughter with girlfriends

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cheers of my boy with friends over a victorious Wii game

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little girl's childish accent

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double date over tapas

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finding old friends

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Papa, Grand-Sheri & Mama June's coming visit

" And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:13

Stillness

God's Word says to "Be Still and know that I am God." (Ps. 46:10) These words have haunted me over the past few years. I think I am just beginning to grasp their meaning. He says following this that He will be exalted in the earth. So, why do I strive? We have just returned from a very special time with our family back east. Both Michael and I wondered how we would feel going back after just a few months away. A flood of emotions came as we drove from Reagan National. Washington DC is a beautiful city, especially covered in winter's snow. Driving through Potomac and seeing all our old haunts made me thoughtful. How much we have missed our life here, our friends, our family. We had such a precious time with all of them. Our kids were encouraged by spending time with their friends, and in the many late nights filled with laughter with their cousins. That encouraged my soul. Not much sleep, but much joy! And, in the blackness of the late nights, Michael and I would ask each other how we felt coming back. Did we do the right thing? Do we miss being here? I think in the stress of moving and trying to unpack and get kids settled, I had lost some of the vision of why we moved. I started to question everything, and I know Michael felt the same.

To live in the DC area means to be in a constant state of movement! It means, for us, losing sight of family and faith. Schedules, schedules, schedules. Work, work, work. God had been doing a quiet work in our hearts for many years. Preparing us for something we knew was eminent. Moving away from the rat race. God had surly blessed the work of Michael's hands and blessed us with an abundance of family, but our own little family was struggling to hold on. Not to mention, Michael's God given dreams were being forgotten. All of these things though, in God's amazing grace, were tools for us. We had learned so much, enough at this point to be able to make the decision to move. And God is still blessing us. Our family unit is strong. Michael is happy doing what God had created him to do. And, I feel still and quiet, a feeling I was afraid of for so long and now I cherish. Life is good, as the slogan says. We are living in the will of God. We don't know how God will work the rest out, but for this moment, we are at peace. I thank God for His words, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." All this life is for His glory, for Him to be exalted.

Thorns:1000 Gifts

'L
ife without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion.

Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception.

Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude.

Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road."

-John Henry Jowett

I have copied this quote from one of my absolute favorite blogs A Holy Experience. Ann Voskamp has continued to encourage me and to challenge my often ungrateful view on life. This unfortunate thorn has not only caused me to be unkind and selfish toward my family, but it has also forced me to my knees in repentance. It is these kinds of "thorns in the flesh" I am grateful for today. Little reminders of my need for a Savior. And believe me, I have quite a few!!! Not only spiritual in nature, but the physical as well. I thank God for these today as I reflect on the past couple of weeks. I thank God for His grace that continually calls me home.

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Thorns in the flesh

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God's continued grace

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Continued blessing at school

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Being able to fly home for Christmas

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Christmas cookies

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My husband

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My children

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The Advent of our Lord and Savior